I found the segment on this subject on page 274 titled "Defining Persuasion" rather interesting. It talks about some very basic, everyday situations that we all found ourselves in that involves persuasion. When you think about it, it's something we are all in involved in everyday. So much of what we come into contact with involves the art of persuasion. A couple examples include someone wanting to to make plans with you for the weekend; T.V. commercials trying to convince you that that you need their products, pop-ups on your computer trying to get your attention when you're online; Charity organizations wanting you to give money etc. When you think about it, persuasion is all around us.
For me, I don't watch a TV commercial and go "Wow, I need to get me one of those.....". I have often laughed at how silly and stupid commercials are, I also wonder (out loud) who are they trying to appeal to. Sometimes I wonder if market researchers must think the average TV viewer is a bunch of idiots.
The other part of the section also said that persuasion involves choice. It compared that to coercion. This was an interesting section since we just came off about 2 years of political adds. Coercion is described as when "a person feels compelled to think a certain way or feels compelled to act under pressure..." (pg 274). Doesn't that sound a lot like these recent political ads? If you apply the tactic of "fear mongering" that was used in a lot of these ads, then you gotta agree that they crossed the line of persuasion and entered the world of coercion. Either way, when I read that part in the book, that was the first thing I thought about.
When you mentioned the charity organization wanting our money I thought of Sarah McLachlan's SPCA commercial with those adorable puppies being shown, all while her song "Angel" is playing. It's so sad I have to change the channel or mute it and look away! Haha. It is so true that persuasion is all around us, and will continue to be. It's funny that you state that when you saw a lot of those political ads you thought that they were using coercion. I didn't think so, but maybe they didn't instill fear in me and I didn't feel pressured. I guess I just happened to miss a lot of those ads? Thankfully the election is over though. Anyway, great post.
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